Twisted Limbs from Ottawa bring a dope mix of punk and grunge. Musically you’ve got muted guitar riffs with anguished vocals that build into a big chorus and even more cries for relief from the misery that occurs in life. After reading over their story, I started off laughing about how they formed after a band member named Riley broke into another member’s apartment (Adrian’s) to drink moonshine and then added added his name to Adrian’s phone as 'your best friend' which led to the formation of the band. After learning that this song was composed of some of the last lyrics that Riley wrote before taking his own life, I had to take a long pause before I could continue writing, so I could just listen to the song and reflect on my own loss of friends—musicians in particular—who had passed from suicide.

As one would expect the song is filled with despair and melacholy and cries for help, but its also tinged with hope at the end. I can only imagine how they felt recording this song, and I hope it was cathartic.

I don’t usually copy and past info, but in this case, I’m going to let the band’s words finish this blog:

On March 31st, 2022 Rye Bread (Riley Whelan Taylor) passed away.

To honour this amazing kind-hearted soul and our fellow twisty bestie, Adrien Idiot and Donzo (Donavon O’Leary) teamed up with Dana Wiesbrock to record one of the last songs Rye Bread ever wrote for Twisted Limbs.

“Battery” was written amidst a lot of depression. We took Rye’s words and added a few of our own. Maybe it’s what we wish we could have said, maybe we just miss our friend.

The band hopes to bring awareness and to flatten the stigma around mental illness and addiction.

We want people to know ‘it’s okay, not to be okay”. Seek help when you need it, and always tell your loved ones, you love them.

To make a difference you can donate to these organizations:

Royal Ottawa: www.theroyal.ca/donat
Riley Taylor Memorial Award at Carleton University: futurefunder.carleton.ca/giving-fund/riley-taylor-memorial-award/

Check out the song on Spotify or on my punk playlist

Check out the band on IG, Bandcamp and FB

Check out their label Lip Productions on IG

Need a song reviewed or playlisted? Contact me using the link below (Keep in mind, I only review bands I actually like; you can go elsewhere for insincere or negative reviews.)

sbmt.to/dcxpc-live

Want to mail a vinyl for review? Message me at dcpcbooking@gmail.com for the address

No tapes and no CDs, I can’t play either of them.